Jerrod KingeryMinneapolis has been awarded $34 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to rehabilitate the historic Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek.
The funding comes from the Bridge Investment Program (BIP) and will allow the city to repair and replace structural elements of the roadway and bridge.
The bridge was built in 1923 and saw its last significant repairs in 1973. It is the fourth and final of the large, open concrete arched bridges designed and built by Minneapolis between 1914 and 1929. The first three – Franklin Ave., 10th Ave. and 3rd Ave. over the Mississippi River – have already been rehabilitated.
“The Nicollet Ave. bridge is in desperate need of repair and could have been closed completely by 2030 had it not been for this significant investment,” said City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher. “We have several historic structures in the City of Lakes, and we must take care of them in order to take care of the people who use them.”
The city will finalize plans and complete state and federal project reviews over the next few months. The bridge will be closed during construction, which is scheduled to begin in 2026.
During that time, crews will repair cracks, arches and other concrete deterioration. They will also replace floor beams, deck, railings, drainage system, sidewalks and lighting.
Once construction finishes in 2028, the bridge will feature six-foot protected bikes lanes, eight-foot pedestrian sidewalks and a pair of 11-foot traffic lanes.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $55.2 million. The city says the remaining $20.9 million is expected to come from a mix of state and local funds.
The BIP awards grants to municipalities to repair existing bridges that are considered in poor or fair condition. The National Bridge Inventory (NBI) gives the Nicollet Ave. bridge a 4 rating, which it considers “poor” condition.
Photo courtesy Minnesota Department of Transportation
